SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Western Michigan volleyball team opened the Golden Dome Invitational at the University of Notre Dame with a hard-fought 3-1 (17-25, 27-25, 23-25, 22-25) loss to Cleveland State on Friday evening.
 
Sydney LeMay, Olivia Kofie and Alysia Baznik each recorded double-digit kills with LeMay leading the way with 16. Baznik recorded her first double-double of the season after recording 16 digs to go along with her 13 kills. CSU's Grace Kauth finished with a game-high 19 kills.
 
"Cleveland State is a very good team," said head coach Colleen Munson. "We are proud of the way we competed as a team and we need to get ready for two tough matches tomorrow in Seton Hall and Notre Dame."
 
Cleveland State jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the first set and was able to hold it through the entirety. WMU came within two after block by Kofie to make it 15-17 but the Broncos never got over the hump, falling 17-25.
 
Western Michigan rebounded in a nail-biter in set two. The set featured five total lead changes. The Broncos led from the start but the Vikings were pesky to put away, tying the game 12 times. Neither team led by more than four points, with CSU taking a 25-24 lead after closing down a 24-21 lead by the Broncos. LeMay earned a kill and followed it up with a block assist with Mary Murphy to put Western Michigan back on top 26-25. Bailey Schnell sealed the set with a kill to push the final to 27-25.
 
Set three saw the Broncos take another early lead but were unable to sustain it. WMU led 13-9 at one point but Cleveland State went on a 7-2 run to take the lead 16-15. The Broncos would tie the set six more times but never retake the lead, falling 23-25.
 
The final set mirrored the rest of the match with another close contest that featured three lead changes early on before the Vikings took control of the set. WMU tried to rally late but was unable to get within more than two points of CSU before falling 22-25.
 
Western Michigan has a quick turnaround as it faces Seton Hall at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. The game can be seen live online at WatchND.tv.